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Forest go into the game having reached the play off semi-finals last year and manager Billy Davies, who was that close to being able to say 'job done', has said today: "Pre-season is always frustrating in terms of the games and training. The fact that it's out of the way is great and it's nice to get the real ball rolling.
"I'm looking forward to the challenge and I know the players and my staff feel exactly the same way. I always relish the start of a new season. There's great optimism but as ever there's also great passion and commitment as well.
"It's a fantastic challenge again for us, there are exciting times to look forward to, so bring it on."
Asked about the fact that Forest have been placed as second favourites by some bookmakers, he added: "The bookies had France as one of the favourites for the World Cup and Blackpool were nowhere to be seen this time last year when people were talking about who would get promotion from the Championship.
"Every year, whether it's Burnley, Blackpool or Derby County, there's always someone who comes out of the pack and it will happen again this time round. In the Championship there's no such thing as favourites, there's great competition in this division.
"It doesn't count for anything as far as I'm concerned because I've seen so-called favourites fall flat on their faces and so-called outsiders end up with the spoils. It doesn't matter what the bookmakers are saying."
Brian Laws came into Turf Moor as manager in January and saw us win just three games up to the end of the season. "It's a big season for me personally and it's one I'm relishing," he said.
"It was tough last year, no doubt about that. A lot of things happened last year. It's allowed me to take note of what I thought went wrong and areas I think we need to tighten up, hopefully we've achieved that.
"My message to supporters is that it is a new season, it's clean slate. I was nearly as popular as John Bond last year. I'm going to make sure this year they won't be talking about John Bond.
"All the work and effort that the players and coaching staff have put in, he planning that we've put in place, all now comes to fruition.
"I can't wait, it's been six weeks of wait and you've got to be patient in that six weeks, but now you just want to get the season underway. The players are excited about the new season, everybody waits for the big kick off and I think everybody is anticipating a good afternoon.
"The fact that we're going to be playing a team that I've got a lot of time for just makes it that extra bit special. But let me tell you straight from the kick off, Nottingham Forest will not be in my thoughts."
Laws added: "The great thing is that we won't be playing in a sparse stadium. It will be full, noisy and this is what the players have been anticipating and waiting for. The fact that there's a crowd there to stimulate everybody really does make the hairs stand on the back of your neck.
"The first day of the season is something that every player loves to be part of."